born John Ernst Steinbeck, Jr. on February 7, 1902 in Salinas, California
died on December 20, 1968 of heart disease and congestive heart failure
American author
worked his way through Stanford, but never graduated
moved to New York, failed to become freelance writer, and returned to California
famous works include Of Mice and Men (1937), The Grapes of Wrath (1939), and East of Eden (1952)
John Steinbeck was of German-Irish descent. At Stanford, he studied marine biology but never finished his degree. He moved to New York and worked as a reporter until he was fired, after which he worked miscellaneous jobs such as a painter, caretaker, surveyor, and fruit picker. His first novel, Cup of Gold (1929), was about Captain Henry Morgan, a famous Caribbean pirate. He married his first wife, Carol Henning, in 1930. They divorced in 1943, and he had two wives afterward: Gwyn Conger in 1943, and Elaine Anderson in 1950. Steinbeck's 1935 novel Tortilla Flat won him widespread notoriety. He used his fame and wealth to benefit underprivileged people.
John Steinbeck was of German-Irish descent. At Stanford, he studied marine biology but never finished his degree. He moved to New York and worked as a reporter until he was fired, after which he worked miscellaneous jobs such as a painter, caretaker, surveyor, and fruit picker. His first novel, Cup of Gold (1929), was about Captain Henry Morgan, a famous Caribbean pirate. He married his first wife, Carol Henning, in 1930. They divorced in 1943, and he had two wives afterward: Gwyn Conger in 1943, and Elaine Anderson in 1950. Steinbeck's 1935 novel Tortilla Flat won him widespread notoriety. He used his fame and wealth to benefit underprivileged people.
Sources:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/John_Steinbeck
http://nobelprize.org/nobel_prizes/literature/laureates/1962/steinbeck-bio.html
http://www.americanwriters.org/writers/steinbeck.asp
http://www.johnsteinbeck.com/bio.shtml